1985 PT-40 Radiator Question

[sfedeli3]

The '85 PT40 with the 6V92 does not have a sight glass. You just have
to keep feeding her 'til she pukes it back out. Usually after the
system is opened up for repairs or hose work, you can fill it up to
the rim and continue to add another gallon or so over the next few
days as the air works out of the system. The 8V92 option in 1986
required a larger engine compartment with a higher ceiling clearance.
The overflow tank was kept at the same height, however, and equipped
with the sight glass.

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...>
wrote:
>
> My '86 8v92 PT38 does have a sight glass. Surge tank is at top left
> (street side) of engine compartment with rear cover raised.
>
> Scott Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
> >
> > The surge tank on the 8v92 may not have the sight glass. I looked
> at
> > some photos of older PT-'birds on the Vintage Birds web site, and
> I
> > could see (what I assume was) the surge tank just left of center
> at
> > the top of the engine compartment (with the cover raised). I
> didn't
> > see the sight glass, so I assume that there's an indicator tab
> just
> > inside the fill cap (as on many vehicles). (Overfilling the
> radiator
> > isn't a serious problem as excess coolant will simply exit through
> > the overflow tube -- but it does waste a bit of coolant.)
> >
> > A tear, even quite small, can allow a _lot_ of coolant to escape,
> > since it's under several pounds of pressure in the system.
> >
> > Pete Masterson
> > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> > El Sobrante CA
> > aeonix1@
> >
> >
> >
> > On Jan 1, 2008, at 10:43 AM, curlesw wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks Pete.
> > >
> > > The hose ran from the pump into the engine block....fairly easy to
> > > reach. It had a 2.5" rip in it...didn't expect such a huge
> failure.
> > > Sure, maybe a small hole from a 21 year old hose, but wow! I
> lost a
> > > lot of fluid very quickly. I'm glad the engine alarm worked
> since it
> > > was at night and I could not see all the smoke pouring out the
> back.
> > >
> > > I did not noticed the surge tank and site glass...will have to
> look
> > > for that when I add coolant back into the system to ensure I do
> not
> > > overflow.
> > >
> > > I read the BB manual and it said to use an antifreeze which
> contains
> > > ethylene glycol. When I get back home I'll have a complete flush
> of
> > > all fluids anyway, it's time for a complete refresh...just need to
> > > get home by Sunday, which is 2,000 miles away!
> > >
> > > v/r
> > > Wayne C.
> > > San Deigo, CA
> > > 1985 PT-40
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> > > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> The engine radiator in a PT is on the left (street) side at the
> > > rear
> > >> of the coach. From the inside, you should be able to see a fan
> > > (with
> > >> a shroud around it) that pulls air through the radiator. The
> > > radiator
> > >> near the generator is for the generator only.
> > >>
> > >> The fill for the radiator is in the center on the rear above the
> > >> engine compartment cover. It feeds into a surge tank. Usually
> > > there's
> > >> a small, round sight glass. The water level (minimum) is to the
> > >> center of the sight glass. (Too full will cause the coolant to
> > >> overflow when it heats up.)
> > >>
> > >> Be sure you're using a coolant that's appropriate to the engine.
> > >> Check the Detroit Diesel recommendation for your engine.
> > >>
> > >> It occurs to me that the hose -might- have been for the generator
> > >> rather than the engine. Where, exactly, was the hose you
> replaced?
> > >> (Of course, you should check the water level in the generator as
> > >> well. That's accomplished by removing the radiator cap and
> looking
> > > in.)
> > >>
> > >> Pete Masterson
> > >> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> > >> El Sobrante CA
> > >> aeonix1@
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Dec 31, 2007, at 5:34 PM, curlesw wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> This seems like a silly question, but here goes. I need to add
> > >>> coolant and read the instructions. I had a leak in a hose that
> > >>> required replacement and now need to add coolant to the system.
> > >>>
> > >>> Does the engine use the same radiator as the one located in
> front
> > > of
> > >>> the generator? I just assumed there would be a separate
> radiator
> > > but
> > >>> guess not, correct?
> > >>> Thanks.
> > >>>
> > >>> Wayne C.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>